The event attracts up to 160,000 visitors from across the country, as well as busloads of foreign tourists – creating massive
demand for hotel rooms.
Numerous hotels in and around the city say they have been fully booked for months, with many market-goers making bookings a year in advance to try and grab a festive bargain.
White Hart Hotel reservations officer Jan Etty said many people actually booked their room for this year’s market when they left last year.
“We start taking bookings for the Christmas Market on December 3,” she said.
“There’s a lot of repeat business, as we get the same people coming year after year. There’s a core group who like the same room at the same time of year.
“All our standard rooms were fully booked months ago. The only thing we had left after that were the larger, more expensive suites.”
The Lincoln Hotel, the Castle Hotel, and Lincoln Tower Hotel all shared the same sentiments as the White Hart, saying that a lot of their bookings were repeat business from loyal customers who would book a year in advance so as not to miss out.
The only hotels which seem to have rooms available over the Christmas Market weekend are the luxury five-star Charlotte House and Bailhouse hotels in uphill Lincoln.
Manager of both the Charlotte House and the Bailhouse Jonathan Pass said he was confident they would be fully booked by the time of the market.
“We’re usually fully booked every year by the time of the market,” he said.
“We take a little longer to fill up, as we charge quite a lot and we’re quite expensive in comparison to the smaller, lower-star hotels.
“But we offer a great location. We’re right in the middle of the market and offer parking, which is highly beneficial. For that reason, we’re equally as popular with the market traders as well as the punters.”
This year’s market officially opens at 6pm on Thursday, December 3, and lasts until Sunday, December 6.
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